Denon DVD 1920-Pure Direct Mode

[PROG U.K.]

According to the owner's manual for the Denon DVD 1920 there is a Pure Direct MOde which " achieves highersound quality" by shutting off the Analog video and HDMI signal output. Can anyone confirm the sound quality for SACD's is significantly enhanced in this mode?


Thanks!

[Spitfire]

According to the owner's manual for the Denon DVD 1920 there is a Pure Direct MOde which " achieves highersound quality" by shutting off the Analog video and HDMI signal output. Can anyone confirm the sound quality for SACD's is significantly enhanced in this mode?


Thanks!My Marantz DV7600 has a similar feature which deactivates the video circuitry when listening to music only discs. I can't say I've ever heard a difference. I doubt you would hear a significant enhancement but your ears may be more sensitive and hear a difference.

[ted_b]

Any time you remove unnecessary signal processing (video, HDMI, digital outs, fl display, etc.) you relieve the power supply of extra work, and reduce noise risks. The minimal pure direct implementation on the 1920, though (no digitial outs turned off, no source direct capability to ensure pure DSD processing) , will only do so much. Make sure you turn off the digital outs manually. You'll likely hear a slight veil lifted, but it's very slight. Better than nothing.

[Metoo]

What Ted said in his first sentence.

[kpbalog]

I have the 1920 as well, and have never heard a noticeable improvement when using the pure direct mode. IIRC, the feature isn't available on the remote either, which is another reason that I have pretty much abandoned it...

[ted_b]

Denon is usually pretty good about settings and user interface, but not having things like Pure Direct available via the remote (or even the setup menu) makes the feature useless and likely void of any real sonic benefit. On my 3910 it is quite useful, programmable for three different settings (i.e all off, some stuff off, etc) and available on the remote. The only thing the 3910 lacks is a remote button for Source Direct (the turning on and off of SACD DSD output vs PCM; a significant sonic difference!). SD is available via the setup menus, but that necessitates turning on the tv (and I have a pj with a screen that is draped when not in use...PITA to turn on just for one setting). Some folks have gone as far as buying a little 5 inch lcd screen to house near the listening postion for small navigation issues like this or DVD-Audio navigation. User friendly is not a term that comes to mind.

[Burningfool]

I have a 3910, and I notice a definite improvement in sound quality using Pure Direct "all off." I should say that I notice it the most with DVD-Audio. Switching between the settings produces noticible changes in the sound quality, at least it does to my ears.

Here's a link to a similar discussion on Audiogon about the 3910:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1116509833&openfrom&1&4#1

I thought this was an interesting post in the above thread:

"The other thing Denon 3910 users should know is that, if you are listening to 192/24 DVD-A and you do not have the Denon in Pure Direct "All OFF" mode, you are getting 96/24. In order to get real 192/24, please turn the Pure Direct to "All OFF". This will also give you much better audio quality with all formats."

Hope this helps,

Chris

[Strabo]

Interesting observations on the 3910.

I always select the setting that turns everything off but I attributed the sound changes to the display being off. I didn't notice that much of a difference with the digital outputs off when the display was still on.

It might be my imagination, but the (acoustic) image seems blurrier with the display on.

[nelamvr6]

I also have the DVD-1920. I really like the sound of this unit with SACD and DVD-A, but I didn't really notice any difference with "Pure-Direct" enabled or disabled.

[Steve G]

I have a 2910 and I use pure direct "all off" too - it sounds better "all off" for sure

[Chris Gerhard]

The Denon DVD-756, a silver DVD-1920 is available on eBay described as new including factory warranty for about $110 or less delivered to the US. Item #250137059472.

Chris

[axnyslie]

I have the 1930CI I'll have to try that mode to hear if there's any improvement.

[musicality]

Any time you remove unnecessary signal processing (video, HDMI, digital outs, fl display, etc.) you relieve the power supply of extra work, and reduce noise risks.
Are you suggesting that the power supply is wildly stressed by its maximum 15-watt demands? What precisely is a "noise risk?"

[Metoo]

Are you suggesting that the power supply is wildly stressed by its maximum 15-watt demands? What precisely is a "noise risk?"I'm not Ted, but the SPDIF and similar digital outputs are known to create interference with other circuits. Also, IIRC and specially in lower cost models, the transformer which feeds the unit its power is not as powerful as it should be to have enough headroom for 'intensive' HiRez playback and can, thus, affect sound quality by not providing the necessary power for certain transients, etc.

Regarding the 'noise' a 'lower performance' issue my player's instructions do mention it.

[musicality]

SPDIF and similar digital outputs are known to create interference with other circuits.
Known by whom? Can you cite anything proving this? This board is just the zaniest group of audio nutjobs I've ever come across (no offense). People claim to hear sounds near noisefloors of -144dB with absolute clarity and definition, hear jitter, be able to detect differences in digital signals carried over one brand of optical cable versus another... and yet nobody can prove a darned thing. And god help anyone if they suggest that you should be able to prove such claims.

Also, IIRC and specially in lower cost models, the transformer which feeds the unit its power is not as powerful as it should be to have enough headroom for 'intensive' HiRez playback and can, thus, affect sound quality by not providing the necessary power for certain transients, etc.
Seriously? That's going to be the argument? Situation #1: Digital Outputs. The "headroom" and "necessary power" argument is complete nonsense. Situation #2: Multichannel Analog Outputs (or standard Analog Outputs for the non-"HiRez" formats). Standard channel output is 2Vrms/10kOhm. 15 watts has that covered several thousand times over. The player is not driving the speakers... power is simply not an issue.

Regarding the 'noise' a 'lower performance' issue my player's instructions do mention it.
These are words, but they are not a sentence.

I don't mean to jump on you personally, sorry. I really quite appreciate your posts in general. I'm just pointing out some huge frustrations I have with how often threads burst into this notion that there's a world of difference made by things that can neither be quantified, tested, proven, or explained. :crazy:

[Metoo]

Known by whom? Can you cite anything proving this? This board is just the zaniest group of audio nutjobs I've ever come across (no offense). People claim to hear sounds near noisefloors of -144dB with absolute clarity and definition, hear jitter, be able to detect differences in digital signals carried over one brand of optical cable versus another... and yet nobody can prove a darned thing. And god help anyone if they suggest that you should be able to prove such claims.
From my player's user manual page 54: "When listening to sources with 192kHz or 176.4kHz sampling, you can improve the audio quality by switching off the digital output." IIRC, it was after comenting this that a technical person in a foreign forum commented about how the SPDIF connection can interfere with other circuits.
I don't mean to jump on you personally, sorry. I really quite appreciate your posts in general. I'm just pointing out some huge frustrations I have with how often threads burst into this notion that there's a world of difference made by things that can neither be quantified, tested, proven, or explained. :crazy:You are entitled to your opinions. All I can personally do is try to base my comments on previously discussed and arrived at conclusions, here and elsewhere, or personally experienced differences. And, yes, turning off the digital output in my player yields better sound. It is my way of sharing the best information I can post. I have the backup recordings of my HiRez discs done off the analog outputs of my player as proof.

[hbbfam]

I am curious what settings owners of the Denon DVD-1920 have found to be the best. I just added an external Digital to Audio Converter. I have the DRC and LPCM set to "off". There was mention earlier of a Pure Direct Setting. I am unable to find this setting on mine.

[ti-triodes]

There was mention earlier of a Pure Direct Setting. I am unable to find this setting on mine.



Check the front panel. If memory serves there is no button on the remote.

[ChadHahn]

On my 2900 there is a knob to switch to the Pure Direct Setting.

Chad

[Erik Tracy]

Known by whom? Can you cite anything proving this? This board is just the zaniest group of audio nutjobs I've ever come across (no offense). People claim to hear sounds near noisefloors of -144dB with absolute clarity and definition, hear jitter, be able to detect differences in digital signals carried over one brand of optical cable versus another... and yet nobody can prove a darned thing. And god help anyone if they suggest that you should be able to prove such claims.


Seriously? That's going to be the argument? Situation #1: Digital Outputs. The "headroom" and "necessary power" argument is complete nonsense. Situation #2: Multichannel Analog Outputs (or standard Analog Outputs for the non-"HiRez" formats). Standard channel output is 2Vrms/10kOhm. 15 watts has that covered several thousand times over. The player is not driving the speakers... power is simply not an issue.


These are words, but they are not a sentence.

I don't mean to jump on you personally, sorry. I really quite appreciate your posts in general. I'm just pointing out some huge frustrations I have with how often threads burst into this notion that there's a world of difference made by things that can neither be quantified, tested, proven, or explained. :crazy:

Must be from AVS or audioholics....